The Special Investigations Unit has released their report about the fatal shooting of Helen and Tom Ryan at Northumberland Hills Hospital in the early hours of October 28, 2018.
The full report is available at http://www.ontario.ca/page/siu-directors-report-case-17-ofd-313 but after reviewing the Director’s Report a few things stand out.
Not only did the two Cobourg Police officers do an exemplary job, so did hospital staff.
As a reporter covering the shooting from shortly after the shooting and the following days, it was discovered the couple were failing in health.
The husband was a gun collector and they would regularly travel from Ontario to Texas seasonally.
At the time, everything people told me about the couple seemed to fit what happened.
It was a tragedy for not only the Helen, but for police, paramedics, hospital staff, the healthcare worker and anyone who was in the area of the shooting at Northumberland Hills Hospital.
The healthcare worker called an ambulance after the man made statements about taking his own life at their camper located at a trailer park east of Colborne..
It’s likely they planned to return to Texas, but knowing the failing health of both, the man likely knew it would never happen again.
The SIU Director’s report indicated he went to his room in the trailer for two minutes before coming out and being transferred to Northumberland Hills Hospital.
The report states, “he commented to his wife that “It’s been a great 46 years of knowing you, I love you, but apparently 47 years wasn’t in the cards for us,” and indicated to the healthcare worker that they had to “cash the chips in eventually.”
Once at the hospital both were placed in a triage room waiting for a doctor. The lights were off. Shortly after a loud “bang” was heard. The woman had been shot in the right side of her head. The man was approximately two feet beside her, his hands under a blanket.
He calmly told staff his wife shot herself in the head.
She was quickly taken to the recovery room to try and save her life. While efforts were made to resuscitate the woman, staff were unable to locate a gun.
When the two officers arrived at the hospital they were advised by a nurse, that despite the indication from the man that his wife had shot herself, “they were unable to locate the firearm.”
In the heat of the moment, when your heart is racing, when you don’t know what has exactly happened, for that nurse to let the officer’s know that they were unable to locate the gun was absolutely critical.
The scene likely went from a suicide, to a person with a gun, a possible “active shooter.”
Two completely different situations.
All because staff indicated to police the possible danger.
When they entered the now lit room, they were aware of what they likely had and when seconds can make the difference between life and death, the officers had those precious seconds on their side.
When police asked the man twice where the weapon was, one witness overheard him say, “right here.”
“While pulling the blanket down from his chest area and lifting a firearm in his right hand.”
A nurse commented the man, “started to point the gun up with the muzzle pointed towards the officers.”
A hospital employee who witnessed the shooting described one of the officers, , “as looking scared, fearful, and doing something he did not want to do.”
“The officer’s finger (was) moving faster than anything he had ever seen in his life,” as shots rang out from the officer’s firearms.
After the first volley of shots, the officer asked his partner if the threat was over.
“He then noted, however, that the Complainant was shaking or twitching under the blanket which, combined with his inability to see the firearm, caused both SO #2 and SO #1 to again fire their weapons at the Complainant. footnote 6 [6] SO #2 then completed an emergency reload of his firearm. After the reload, however, SO #2 noted that the Complainant was no longer moving and he stood back and did not fire his weapon again, although he did not yet believe that the threat was completely over.”
In total the two officers discharged their weapons 30 times (16 by one officer, 14 by the other). Twenty rounds hit Tom Ryan.
There were two separate volley’s of gunfire. After the first shots were filed, there was a 3.57 second delay before the second volley. Total time from first shot to final shot was 10 seconds.
Again, this statement is critical in the Director’s Report, “On September 20, 2018, the forensic pathologist further clarified that none of the wounds sustained by the Complainant would be expected to have been immediately incapacitating and that the Complainant could still have been moving following any one of the wounds.”
“The pathologist further explained that an injury to the heart or other organs in the torso would not necessarily immediately stop the brain and would not exclude the possibility of continued movement.”
The cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds including to the torso and extremities, including to the index finger of his right hand and the ring and baby finger of his left hand. The gunshot wounds to the torso were fatal. The cause of death was determined to be as a result of a single penetrating gunshot wound perforating the brain.
A .38 semi-automatic handgun owned by the complainant was recovered at the scene. One bullet was in the chamber and three others were in the magazine.
Again, this statement is critical, “On September 20, 2018, the forensic pathologist further clarified that none of the wounds sustained by the Complainant would be expected to have been immediately incapacitating and that the Complainant could still have been moving following any one of the wounds.”
Director of the Special Investigations Unit Tony Loparco concluded, “I find in all of the circumstances that SO #2 and SO #1 believed that their lives, and those of hospital staff members and any civilians in the area, was in danger from the Complainant, which belief was objectively reasonable, and thus their actions in firing upon the Complainant were justified. I find that it would have been foolish and reckless for these two police officers to risk their own lives by waiting to see if a further shot was actually going to be fired from the weapon in the possession of the Complainant, which weapon was clearly a working firearm, had already reportedly been used to shoot and kill CW #12, and which the Complainant was now aiming at the officers. I find that that risk was not one that either of SO #1 or SO #2 should have had to take when faced with possibly being shot by a man who, by all appearances, was armed and was an imminent danger to both police officers, and to persons under their protection, and who clearly had the will and the ability to shoot and kill, as evidenced by the death of CW #12.”
For the people that were involved, October 28, 2017 will be forever with them. The tragic set of circumstances that they had no control over. That played out in front of them.
Starting from the healthcare worker who never knew what was ahead when the man utters the words, “it’s been a great 46 years knowing you.”
It’s understandable they may feel guilt, the “I should have known” when how could anyone have known.
Northumberland County Paramedics who transported both the victim and shooter to hospital with a fully loaded firearm. The “what if’s” must play out in their minds.
Emergency room staff and people waiting for treatment.
A hospital is supposed to be a place of refuge. Where we go to seek help and comfort from caring staff.
The last thing any staff member would ever think would happen is to have a shooting happen in the emergency room.
Staff at Northumberland Hills Hospital performed exemplary that morning. Again, pointing out they haven’t found a gun to officers just arriving was critical.
To the officers involved. Even knowing their actions that evening were justified, for the last year they have had to wait for the detailed Special Investigations Report.
On November 21, 2018 the Director’s Report was issued. And showed what we all had hoped. The officers performed with heroism. Going towards danger, towards a person who had just killed his wife. Concealing a gun below the blankets then raising it towards the officer.
The two officers performed their duties under the most extreme of circumstances and came out of it unharmed – physically.
The hidden injuries are the ones that take longer to heal.
If anyone knows of anyone involved in the incident, ask them how they are doing. Show you care, a handshake, a hug or a simple “thank you” goes a long way.
Today’s Northumberland hopes that everyone involved gets not only the emotional support from their families, co-workers and their employers, but professional support if needed.
You’re not alone – ever.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
